266 Kilometers to the Sky: Manali to Lachuchung La Road Travel (India)

The gate that opens after crossing Rohtang Pass feels like another world every time. I can see the greenery receding behind me, and the dry mountains and rocky valley begin ahead. Because the sun has already risen, the early morning chill isn't felt in the air. Our vehicle enters the Lahaul Valley after checking in at the Khoksar checkpoint. We've reached the runners, who are enjoying the morning sun, and our mission is to go a little further and have a hot cup of tea.

The Lahaul Valley air is humid, the high mountains are covered in snow, and the grass is lush. Here and there, the mountains show a light reddish-brown hue, as if someone has painted these magnificent mountains with a paintbrush. We're not going off the road because of the runners, so we're spending our time along the road. Crossing Khanas, Sissu, and the petrol pump here, we're moving closer and closer to our destination. Sissu Lake is visible from the road, and a massive waterfall cascades down from behind the Pir Panjal Range. This waterfall doesn't freeze even in the -20 degree Celsius temperature. Some locals are basking in the sun, and I ask them, "It must be very difficult to live in this cold." The local smiles and says, "It's not difficult, but we've gotten used to it because we were born here. Living in the plains is difficult for us because we're neither smart nor accustomed to the heat." The pride of being born in the mountains was evident in the local's words.
We're heading towards Keylong (3080 meters). So far, we've covered about 150 kilometers from Manali to Keylong. From Keylong, we can see a snow-capped peak called "Lady of Keylong." We stop here to rehydrate, cheer, and motivate the runners passing by. Keylong, visible across the Bhaga River, is beautiful. For many years, I've been unable to go to the other side of the mountain every time.

The road from Keylong is well-maintained until Darcha. Some time ago, it was so bad that the stream flowing from the mountain had blocked our way. The streams used to sweep away motorcyclists. But now, with improved roads, travel has become much easier. There's no traffic at all, and from Baralacha La, a 4,890-meter mountain pass, there's a steep, stair-stepped climb from Jingjing Bar to Baralacha La. The temperature is pleasant, and the snow-capped mountains shine like stars in front.

Arriving in Bharatpur, I meet a runner whose face has turned red from the cold wind. I give him some warm water to drink and tell him, "You're doing great. Just don't worry too much and keep moving towards your destination." He thanked me and moved on. I feel that the mountains not only teach us to cope with cold and snow, but also teach us humanity.

By the time we cross Sarchu (4290 meters), it's evening. The air is so cold that fingers go numb just by taking them out of our pockets. The view from here is breathtaking, with the mountains stretching far and wide. Blue sky and long, black road. Now we're heading towards the Gata Loops. We take a break here, drink hot tea, and prepare ourselves for the journey ahead.

Sarchu is the state border between Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. Here, we enter our car twice. Now, we've crossed from Himachal to Ladakh. Seeing the view from here, I find myself saying, "This isn't a mountain, it's meditation." All the noise of the city is left behind for thousands of miles.

The next morning, we move on from Sarchu and cross the Gata Loops and Naki La mountain passes. Naki La is the third mountain pass on this highway, with a height of 4,739 meters. While the road is eager to touch the sky, the car is slowly pushing forward in low oxygen levels. The morning sun is bright, and everyone puts on sunglasses.

Finally, before dusk, we reach Lachung La, the highest point on this highway. It is the fourth mountain pass in the world. Its elevation is 5,065 meters, and it's 266 kilometers from Manali. The rugged landscape makes one wonder how magnificent it would be if it were grassy. Once upon a time, locals traveled to Tibet from here, and this route was known as the Silk Route. I stand silently at this pass for a long time, contemplating the fact that there are no horns, no crowds...there's only wind and mountains.

Disclaimer: This post is originally written in Hindi and I have used Google Translator to translate the Hindi text in English. All the photos have been clicked by me from canon 77d (55-250mm) and edited on laptop lightroom app, and post thumbnail created in adobe photoshop.

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